The Portland daily press., 1887-12-31
THE PEpAcocuEs
Discuss the Effects of Alcohol on the
Human System.
How Much Arithmetic Should be
Taught In Grammar Schools.
Other Topics of interest to School
Teachers.
Especial to the Press.]


sion of the Maine Pedagogical Society opened
in Meonian Hall at a. m, and the morning
tfains added largely to the attendance so that
the hall was well filled with teachers when
all had arrived.
Mr.. G. f. Warner, of the Pennington Nor
NAL School read an interesting paper on
Scientific Temperance Instruction" Illus
trated by copious experiments. He demon
strated very plainly the hurtful effects of al
cohol on the system. By its affinity for
water it withdraws that liquid from the
nerves and tissues. breaking them down and
destroying or impairing their functions,
thereby running the health. The blood also
suffered from alcohol which coagulated the
albumen and was otherwise injurious. But
this was not all The digestive organs were
also seriously affected when alcohol was
constantly introduced into the stomach and
the gastric julce on the food partially or
wholly destroyed. These were but few of
the evils of the alcohol habit. 1t required
quite a respectable equipment of chemicals
and chemical apparatus for Mr. Warner to
carry out his experiments, to which the
teachers gave close attention.
A discussion followed opened by ChaS. h
Crandall. NJ. d., Portland. He earnestly ad-
vocated scientific temperance instruction in
of fixing in the mind of our youths the ter
rible evils of intemperance. 1t not only
breaks down the system but it destroys
character and leads to crime and degreda-
tion
At 1880 o'clock the hall being uncomforta-
bly, Geld, the meeting adjourned until 2
O'Clock p. IN. at the grammar school building
ON State street.
The afternoon session met at 2 p. m, Pres
ident Files in the chair.
The third number on the programme was
the delivering of paper by G. A. Byram,
principal of the grammar school, Bangor, on
"Our Grammar School Arithmetic" He
held that the practical good of the pupils
was the main object to be reached in gram
mar school arithmetic, and those methods
should be adopted which would secure this
end.
Three hours and half week was suffi-
cient time to devote to this study. He would
not give small scholars problems which
would be good discipline for older pupils.
Neither would he have them do examples
which would not furnish any discipline, but
rather those giving moderate amount and
sufficiency for the minds of the pupils.
''The Aim of Our Primary Schools was
treated by Miss M. l.. K. Shaw, of Lewiston,
in well written paper. The essayist noted
the fact that large majority of the scholars
in our public schools end their school life
with the grammar or primary grades, and it
followed that these should be measurably
complete in themselves; and the parent has
a right to expect that some end should be ac-
means by which this might be obtained. She
discoursed on the necessity of providing for
the mental, moral and physical welfare of
the scholars and the mission of the teacher
in securing the best results. The worth OF
object lessons to the pupil was treated at
considerable length, and hard work she did
not believe was Injurious to the young mind
or dstasteful when of the right sort.
A discussion followed, opened by Supt
W. w. Stetson of Auburn, who advocated
especially systematic training in observa-
tion aad laid much stress upon its value to
Principal w. j. Corthell Of the Gorham
Normal School presented Report on Pro-
fessional Reading" He would include in
professional reading for the teacher, physi-
ology. human and comparative; psychology,
thereby arriving at comprehensive knowl-
edge of body and mind. The teacher
should also familiarize himself with the his
tory of education and read about the subjects
which are to be taught, as these are the in
struments of his craft, and he should know
can present them intelligently. Professional
reading can save the teacher from many
costly to the scholar.
A. l.. Lane of Waterville, who opened the
held that the teacher should be
up to the times, and be familiar with al The
cation. First the successful teacher must
know what he wants to teach, then know
everything else possible, and finally be thor
oughly alive in the school-room, and in love
with his profession.
Prof. A. e. Holt of Boston, being unable
to be present forwarded his paper, which
was read by Miss L. Estelle Parke, teacher
of music in the Augusta public schools.
Miss Parke appeared with class of one
hundred pupils, who gave very interesting
exercises in singing.
Professor f. S. Harvey of the State Col
lege, discussed in an able paper what and
how much science teaching in common
schools" While the sciences had become
firmly intrenched in the college curriculums
their introduction into the common schools
must be regarded as an experiment. The
end of all education is discipline. Students
in acquiring this discipline should also get
facts which have a practical value. The
speaker favored the natural sciences and If
properly presented the required ends are
reached, and thorough training in one
science rather than surface work in many.
Sense training should be the chief outcome
of the sciences in our common schools.
The evening session was devoted to a lee
ture delivered by G, w. Emerson, M. D.,
president of the Monroe College of Oratory
of Boston, his subject being, Expression as
a Means of Culture"